Post by erasedcitizen on Mar 18, 2019 17:25:05 GMT
A few months ago, I posted up a little guide to the pubs and bars in the town for those visiting Wrexham for the first time on Wednesday, those who haven't visited in a while and anyone who's just a little curious of what's on in the town.
I will bump this into this thread for easy access and have added an from Massive Floodlights as well as a few bits of tourist info.
So Wrexham's far better for some daytime drinks, so you're better off getting your drinks in before the match if possible rather than after. The Fat Boar (part owned by Barry Horne) is a good place to start off, as they usually do a burger and a pint of Wrexham Lager for £10 before every Wrexham match, the burger being designed by a different player every week. I suspect they'll get a player from the Welsh squad to design one for this match. The food is as good as you'll get in Wrexham and it's a nice enough, the sort of place you'd take your missus out to. Tim Williams has set a pop up shop a few times in there and they stock his SO58 beer.
You'll have to book in though as it will no doubt fill up.
NOTE: The Fat Boar is now hosting the SO58 pre match party from 2pm, with The Riff and The Cazales performing. Entry is £5 with proceeds going towards Wrexham Maelor and Mickey Thomas.
After that, it's all down to what you're into. If you want a cheap pint but want to avoid Wetherspoons, you could head to the Welsh Fusilier, though if you don't mind heading into Spoons, we have 2. Lloyds and Elihu Yale. Lloyds is not your traditional spoons however as it shows live sports and plays music and will no doubt be busy for this one. If you're in there long enough, you'll probably see a fight break out.
After the match, the Wetherspoons' are open until midnight, as are some of the pubs but they pretty much all shut after that. Your only options at that time are Penny Black and the karaoke bar downstairs, New York New York. Penny Black is a bar that plays crap dance music to 40 year old cokeheads, I would avoid it completely. If you do find yourself in there as you just can't resist a few extra beers after the pubs have shut (I've been there, every Wrexham head has), try to avoid looking anyone in the eye. Your best option is the karaoke bar downstairs. It's shit, and if it's busy at all, the host probably won't let you sing more than one song but the fact that it's a karaoke bar means it's the best option at that time in the week.
Pubs/Bars I'd personally recommend:
The Fat Boar - See above
Saith Seren - It's hosted numerous Yes Cymru Wrexham meetings and I would say it's as Welsh of a pub as you'll find in Wrexham. If you're a Welsh speaker, you'll find plenty to speak with there, and I've always found it friendly enough.
Golden Lion* - If you want a proper Wrexham experience, visit the golden lion. It's Wrexham's 2nd oldest pub, but has kept its old looks with its wooden beams and uneven floor. It can be a bit smelly and is full of characters from the town, so be wary but I would say it's worth a visit, just for one. It also has a jukebox and 2 pool tables.
Horse & Jockey* - Wrexham's oldest pub. It still has its thatched roof but everything inside has changed and it just looks like a chain pub now, albeit a small one. It's worth a visit to say you've been to Wrexham's oldest pub.
The Parish - Used to be the Cambrian Vaults, before it got shut down after somebody was stabbed over 50 times in one of the toilets. The place has gone through a massive revamp and is now a pleasant enough bar. If you're more of a traditionalist, this may not be for you as it's gone for a sort of hipster vibe (old gin bottles as lampshades and the like). Indie music is usually played here.
Voodoo Moon - If you're after a cocktail, you'll struggle to find better. They do them right.
The Turf* - THE Wrexham AFC pub, though I'm sure you've all heard of it so I won't harp on about it. If you want to know more, look up The Turf - Racecourse Ground on google. All I'd say is get there early as it'll get jam packed.
Avoid
The Long Pull - Formerly known as the Old Vaults, it's very much a locals pub and any chat that the punters aren't too fond of could leave you in a spot of bother. Most from Wrexham wouldn't have an issue there but they won't be too pleased if they see a load of Welsh fans popping in.
The Cross Foxes - I swear they water down the pints and it's a rough pub. Cheapest pint of lager you'll find in Wrexham however if you can face that.
Penny Black - Just don't go there, no matter how tempted you are.
Some Others
Royal Oak - Opposite the Golden Lion, you'll find some real ales in there.
Nags Head - Marstons pub, so you have some real ale and decent pub food on offer.
Maesgwyn - Opposite the University on Mold Road, this place also serves Wrexham Lager but can also get very busy pre game and usually doesn't have a lot of staff so it can be a wait to get a beer.
* Denotes cash only
A few other drinking establishments worth a look.
The Crafty Dragon Hight St. A former Yates bar. Large bar that serve craft beers and decent pub food. Sports on the huge number of screens.
Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese cafe bar that serves Super Bock and Sagres for around £1,30 a bottle, food is decent too.
The Hideout, a newly opened gaff that serves the typical lagers and ciders
Ironworks, another large bar with numerous tv screens showing sport
Senso, a three story bar aimed at the younger crowd,
Abbott’s bar, formerly the Old Swan, a Wrexham stalwart, just off the high st, serving Hydes beers, a cosy little boozer
If it’s food you’re after
Indian- try the ijazz,by the bus station, voted best in Wales
Chinese- The Great Walls, High St, next door to the Crafty Dragon, opened just before Xmas and very good.
If you have time in the day, the Pontcysyllte aqueduct is worth going to visit as well as the Wrexham Museum. There is also an arts hub in Tŷ Pawb (formerly the People's Market) right by the Saith Seren. Wrexham County Borough is also home to 3 of the 7 wonders of Wales, in Overton Yew Trees, St Giles' Church (in the centre of town) and the bells of All Saints Church in Gresford. Erddig Hall and Chirk Castle are the 2 National Trust sites in the County Borough, the latter I went on a tour of recently as part of a work conference and I thoroughly recommend it if you're into that sort of thing.
I will bump this into this thread for easy access and have added an from Massive Floodlights as well as a few bits of tourist info.
So Wrexham's far better for some daytime drinks, so you're better off getting your drinks in before the match if possible rather than after. The Fat Boar (part owned by Barry Horne) is a good place to start off, as they usually do a burger and a pint of Wrexham Lager for £10 before every Wrexham match, the burger being designed by a different player every week. I suspect they'll get a player from the Welsh squad to design one for this match. The food is as good as you'll get in Wrexham and it's a nice enough, the sort of place you'd take your missus out to. Tim Williams has set a pop up shop a few times in there and they stock his SO58 beer.
You'll have to book in though as it will no doubt fill up.
NOTE: The Fat Boar is now hosting the SO58 pre match party from 2pm, with The Riff and The Cazales performing. Entry is £5 with proceeds going towards Wrexham Maelor and Mickey Thomas.
After that, it's all down to what you're into. If you want a cheap pint but want to avoid Wetherspoons, you could head to the Welsh Fusilier, though if you don't mind heading into Spoons, we have 2. Lloyds and Elihu Yale. Lloyds is not your traditional spoons however as it shows live sports and plays music and will no doubt be busy for this one. If you're in there long enough, you'll probably see a fight break out.
After the match, the Wetherspoons' are open until midnight, as are some of the pubs but they pretty much all shut after that. Your only options at that time are Penny Black and the karaoke bar downstairs, New York New York. Penny Black is a bar that plays crap dance music to 40 year old cokeheads, I would avoid it completely. If you do find yourself in there as you just can't resist a few extra beers after the pubs have shut (I've been there, every Wrexham head has), try to avoid looking anyone in the eye. Your best option is the karaoke bar downstairs. It's shit, and if it's busy at all, the host probably won't let you sing more than one song but the fact that it's a karaoke bar means it's the best option at that time in the week.
Pubs/Bars I'd personally recommend:
The Fat Boar - See above
Saith Seren - It's hosted numerous Yes Cymru Wrexham meetings and I would say it's as Welsh of a pub as you'll find in Wrexham. If you're a Welsh speaker, you'll find plenty to speak with there, and I've always found it friendly enough.
Golden Lion* - If you want a proper Wrexham experience, visit the golden lion. It's Wrexham's 2nd oldest pub, but has kept its old looks with its wooden beams and uneven floor. It can be a bit smelly and is full of characters from the town, so be wary but I would say it's worth a visit, just for one. It also has a jukebox and 2 pool tables.
Horse & Jockey* - Wrexham's oldest pub. It still has its thatched roof but everything inside has changed and it just looks like a chain pub now, albeit a small one. It's worth a visit to say you've been to Wrexham's oldest pub.
The Parish - Used to be the Cambrian Vaults, before it got shut down after somebody was stabbed over 50 times in one of the toilets. The place has gone through a massive revamp and is now a pleasant enough bar. If you're more of a traditionalist, this may not be for you as it's gone for a sort of hipster vibe (old gin bottles as lampshades and the like). Indie music is usually played here.
Voodoo Moon - If you're after a cocktail, you'll struggle to find better. They do them right.
The Turf* - THE Wrexham AFC pub, though I'm sure you've all heard of it so I won't harp on about it. If you want to know more, look up The Turf - Racecourse Ground on google. All I'd say is get there early as it'll get jam packed.
Avoid
The Long Pull - Formerly known as the Old Vaults, it's very much a locals pub and any chat that the punters aren't too fond of could leave you in a spot of bother. Most from Wrexham wouldn't have an issue there but they won't be too pleased if they see a load of Welsh fans popping in.
The Cross Foxes - I swear they water down the pints and it's a rough pub. Cheapest pint of lager you'll find in Wrexham however if you can face that.
Penny Black - Just don't go there, no matter how tempted you are.
Some Others
Royal Oak - Opposite the Golden Lion, you'll find some real ales in there.
Nags Head - Marstons pub, so you have some real ale and decent pub food on offer.
Maesgwyn - Opposite the University on Mold Road, this place also serves Wrexham Lager but can also get very busy pre game and usually doesn't have a lot of staff so it can be a wait to get a beer.
* Denotes cash only
A few other drinking establishments worth a look.
The Crafty Dragon Hight St. A former Yates bar. Large bar that serve craft beers and decent pub food. Sports on the huge number of screens.
Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese cafe bar that serves Super Bock and Sagres for around £1,30 a bottle, food is decent too.
The Hideout, a newly opened gaff that serves the typical lagers and ciders
Ironworks, another large bar with numerous tv screens showing sport
Senso, a three story bar aimed at the younger crowd,
Abbott’s bar, formerly the Old Swan, a Wrexham stalwart, just off the high st, serving Hydes beers, a cosy little boozer
If it’s food you’re after
Indian- try the ijazz,by the bus station, voted best in Wales
Chinese- The Great Walls, High St, next door to the Crafty Dragon, opened just before Xmas and very good.
If you have time in the day, the Pontcysyllte aqueduct is worth going to visit as well as the Wrexham Museum. There is also an arts hub in Tŷ Pawb (formerly the People's Market) right by the Saith Seren. Wrexham County Borough is also home to 3 of the 7 wonders of Wales, in Overton Yew Trees, St Giles' Church (in the centre of town) and the bells of All Saints Church in Gresford. Erddig Hall and Chirk Castle are the 2 National Trust sites in the County Borough, the latter I went on a tour of recently as part of a work conference and I thoroughly recommend it if you're into that sort of thing.
